Jake graduated from pre-K today… and as I watched this little-guy-who-is-now-suddenly-overnight-a-BIG-guy celebrate this wonderful event, I couldn’t help but think of how he has gloriously enriched the lives of his Grandpa and me and our entire family.
This is the story of Jacob Adam Couto.
Jake arrived in this world a bit earlier than expected, while Barry [...]

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This morning, Audrey came to my home bright and early to get lots of work done… like 7:00 am early. Matt was doing breakfast and pre-school transportation for William and Alex, and Benjamin and Henry (still in jammies!) came to Grandma and Pop-up’s with Audrey.
The Audrey/Jane/Sharon to-do list work began in earnest while Benjamin and [...]

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Not to be confused with petal… I am talking bicycling, not gardening.
I did it. This morning, I mailed my entry form to Time Out Productions for the July 19th Falmouth Sprint Triathlon on Cape Cod. This is where the word pedal comes in.
Completing a Sprint Triathlon is on my New Year’s Resolution List 2009. [...]

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Today, Barry and I had the great pleasure of attending Grandparents’ Day at our granddaughter Taylor’s school. The grandparents were treated to a magnificent concert of violins and singing first, and then we accompanied our granddaughters to their classes, library, computer room, science room, Spanish room, music room, outside reading and reflecting gardens, and [...]

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Barry and I are on our 3rd day of babysitting for Benjamin (2) and Henry (10 1/2 months), with help from Auntie Janie, too!
This morning, Benjamin’s voice woke us up at 5:30. That would be AM. The hushed whisper, “Gramma. Gramma,” alerted me to dawn as Benjamin touched my face.
“Hi, Honey,” I [...]

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I’m not a dirty girl.
Well, I do have a totally dirty mind… but I love CLEAN things.
I love clean cars. Clean counters. Clean bathrooms. And especially while cooking or gardening, I love a clean environment, and I clean as I go.
So yesterday provided a bit of a challenge for me… a Grandma [...]

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I was watching all 4 of Audrey’s boys at Audrey’s house this morning when I heard myself say something that I cannot believe I said.
Let me set the scene.
William and Alex were running from room to room in a big circle, chasing each other with light sabers. Living room, hallway, dining room, kitchen. [...]

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Last night, I was at Audrey’s home. Her 3 youngest guys were sound asleep, but William (4) was wide awake and asking to come sit with us and watch “a little tv,” as he put it.
Well, television at night means interesting commercials; not the bells and whistles songs and dances daytime kids’ advertisements. [...]

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While Audrey was attending SXSW, I was not enforcing discipline, rules, orderliness or limitations on her 4 little guys.
I gave no advice or training.  And I did not curb any enthusiasm.
Instead, I dispensed ice cream and chocolate syrup.  You heard me right.  I had them eating out of the palm of my hand.  Well, at [...]

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Don’t judge me, please.
It’s not as easy as it sounds.
Take last night, for example.  We all settled into bed together.  Yes, together.  I’ve been thinking of getting a king size bed for these special nights, but the queen size must do for the time being.  I looked at the clock.  It was 9:30 pm.  By [...]

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